Read Online Blood Ties by Judith E. French - Free Book Online Page A

take forever
for her to remember that the islanders called any meal
served between 4:00 P.M. and breakfast supper.
    "No need for that, darlin'." Will stooped to pet Puzzle's head. A silent command sent the three dogs trailing after him down on their bellies on the grass. Puzzle
spun and hopped with excitement, apparently torn between Will and the presence of Blue, Raven, and Honey.
    "Bring the dogs inside," Bailey said. "They're better
behaved than Daniel."
    "No need. We came by the bay path, and they're all
wet and muddy. The three of them will do fine outside."
    Bailey raised herself on tiptoe and kissed his weathered cheek. "I've made your favorite. Crab cakes."
    "I didn't come to eat."
    She tugged at his arm. "I insist. If I know you, you've
been working on that otter carving since breakfast and
skipped lunch." Will was an artist, and the demand for
his wildlife carvings was so great that there was a threeyear waiting list for one of his pieces.
    He removed his baseball cap and smoothed back his
graying hair. "'Spect I could eat a bite, just to be
neighborly."
    She laughed as she led the way into the kitchen.
"Wait until you taste my crab cakes. I caught the crabs
myself, off my dock."
    "Wouldn't have any blueberry pie, would you?"
    "For you, I might." Will could have the slice she'd
set aside for Daniel.
    Later, as Will finished his supper and she toyed with
hers, Bailey asked, "Have you seen Daniel today?"

    Will wiped his mouth with a napkin, took a sip of
tea, and nodded. "Matter of fact, he went by my place
just before noon. In the skiff."
    "He was in his boat?" Daniel hadn't said anything to
her about going fishing or to Tawes. "I expected him
two hours ago, and he hasn't called."
    "Hmm." Will tossed a morsel of crab to Puzzle under the table. "Not like Daniel to break his word.
Something must have come up.
    Bailey pushed back an uneasy twinge. Last summer,
when she'd first come to Tawes, the something that had
come up had nearly cost them their lives. Daniel had
recently retired from the G.I.A. and a stint in the Far
East, and there were people who hadn't wanted him
to quit.
    "Nothin' to worry yourself over."
    He covered her hand with his, and Bailey noticed
how similar in shape their hands were. For a moment,
her apprehension over Daniel's unexplained absence
was overwhelmed by her affection for Will.
    "I love you," she whispered, gazing into eyes that
were almost identical to her own.
    Will blinked, gave her hand a quick squeeze, and
cleared his throat brusquely. "You stop worryin'.
Daniel's not going to get himself into any more trouble. All that is past and done with."
    "I hope so."
    "He gave me his word when he said he wanted to
marry you."
    "We had words over the marina project," she admitted. "After I got back from the meeting. Daniel believes that development will ruin Tawes. He's violently
opposed to it."
    Will didn't answer, and she knew that he agreed
with Daniel. "Things can't remain the same forever," She said. "New people would mean jobs, more children in our schools, more tax revenue for the island."

    "No use us chewing over the same old bone. You don't
know what's at stake here, what can be lost forever."
    "Daniel thinks that if I'd grown up on Tawes, I'd
look at development differently. I think he's being
pigheaded."
    "He's a good man-in spite of being born a Catlinbut he won't be easy to live with. Keep that in mind,
girl. Daniel's always going to have secrets he can't share
with you. The places he's been, the things he's had to
do. . ." Will's stare grew hard. 'You think about it, darlin'. What you're takin' on if you decide to be his wife."
    "I love him."
    "I loved your grandmother, but she knew better
than to marry me."
    "Daniel's a good man. We just don't see eye to eye
on this issue. If we can't increase enrollment, we could
lose the elementary school. And if it closes, some of
the younger families will move off the island. Cathy
agrees with me. She